A Martian Wobble? It Could Be Dark Matter, Research Reveals
MIT physicists have theorized that the wobble in Mars’ orbit could be caused by ancient black holes, which may be dark matter. According to the research, these tiny black holes formed after the Big Bang and could be traveling through our solar system, potentially affecting the orbits of planets like Mars. MIT physics professor David Kaiser suggests that today’s technology could detect this tiny shift in Mars’ orbit, which would be a major breakthrough in understanding dark matter.
The role of ancient black holes
The study published in the journal Physical Review D suggests that dark matter could be made up of these ancient black holes, which are different from those formed by collapsed stars. These microscopic black holes can exert enough gravity to affect planetary orbits.
The MIT team, including David Kaiser and Sarah Geller, used simulations to predict that these black holes pass through the solar system about once every decade. Their calculations show that even a black hole the size of an asteroid could affect the orbit of Mars.
Detecting the wobbling
Mars is an ideal candidate for this study because of its precise telemetry data. Instruments currently track its position to an accuracy of about 10 centimeters. A passing primordial black hole would cause Mars to deviate slightly from its normal orbit. Sarah Geller, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told Phys.org reports that Earth and the Moon may also have been hit, but that the data for Mars is clearer, making it easier to detect possible anomalies.
What this could mean for dark matter research
If such a wobble is detected, it could confirm the presence of ancient black holes and provide new insights into dark matter. The study highlights the need for careful observations and collaboration with experts in solar system dynamics to further investigate this phenomenon.
